Recommendation Concern...

Question

I have secured two recommenders, but neither is my current supervisor. 

Breakdown: 

Rec 1: Former supervisor/owner of previous company, small company 2 yrs experience w/ company 

Rec 2: Senior Manager at North American Headquarters (I do not work at headquarters). I do work with this manager quite frequently, but often over the telephone. 

My Question: 

Am I making a mistake by using a recommender who is not at my physical location? I know I will get a very good recommendation from him, but will the adcom downgrade it, or will they even notice that he works in another city? 

Other options: 

1) Use a co-worker 
2) Use a supervisor from another department, they would speak well of me... but perhaps not as well as the manager at headquarters 


What should I do? Am I doing the right thing? I'm almost out of time, but I could change course if I work really hard to get it done.

KingKREEP · Answer

I don't think location really matters. It seems that you have worked with this manager quite extensively and that he can comment objectively on your performance. I guess that is exactly what the AdCom is looking for. If I were you, I would go ahead and use the manager from the HQ.

clobo · Answer

I haven't used my current supervisor as a recommender. My two recommendations came from people that worked with me in the same building, though. I would explain why you chose your recommenders in the optional essay. I don't think you have to worry. It's better to get recommendations from people that know you well and can back that up with concrete examples.

riverripper · Answer

This topic was beaten to death a few months ago so if you use the search function. Specify this form, pic threads, and search for recommendations. That will give you a lot more information than your thread will probably get but here is my take on you situation.

1) User your former sup as one definitely. Thats their second most desirable person to do a rec behind a current supervisor. 

2) A common question of recommenders is their interactions with you. So if he can say he interacts with you on a near daily basis he will work. 

DO NOT use a co-worker unless you absolutely had to. Its a terrible idea, unless the school asks for a peer recommendation. 

Since you aren't using a current supervisor, most schools will want to know why you didn't get one from him/her. So you need a good reason, that way they don't think its because you thought they wouldn't give you a good rec.

Make sure you give your recommenders the forms, and some info on why you want an MBA, future career goals...you want to walk them through the process.

kryzak · Answer

Everything river said, and he would probably add, "don't give your recommenders 44 pages of background info like Kryzak did." :wink:

But in all seriousness, give them enough info so they can answer each question from the school easily (with enough material and examples). One of my recommenders really appreciated (and asked for more examples!) the package. The other didn't really look at it (it seemed).

shmegs · Answer

Lol kryzak...but seriously as long as the LOR is written by someone who can say that they've been your manager and have directly worked with you it's all good. I second river and kryzak's suggestions on examples.

aviroop · Answer

as long as u have worked for the person in some capacity, its good enough... 

kryzak and river already made their points here... and this thread has seen much activity. I would recommend you to do a search and find out about recommenders.

Recommendation Concern...

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